Sad Budgei
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THE INDUSTRY's immediate ri action to the Budget was one c disappointment. The increase i tax will help neither operator nor their customers, accordin to the two main associations.
A Road Haulage Associatio spokesman said the increase taxes will add at least four pr cent to hauliers' operating cost "These additional costs cannr be absorbed by the haulage ii dustry, which already is in dii straits, and will therefore passed on to the users of tran port, with a consequent increar in the cost of goods in tt shops."
And he went on to warn th operators may well be unable. charge increased rates to thE customers, thus plunging casllows into even greater trouble.
The Freight Transport Ass ciation described the Budget ; "an odd way to help industry and said the increased tax, made an "utter nonsense" of ti plan to relate goods vehic taxation to road track costs.
A spokesman said the 32, tonner, which is said to und pay track costs of £800, will nc pay an extra £900 a year in ft tax alone, and another £200 vehicle excise duty. "This mak a nonsense of the Transpc Bill," he said.